The Olympics Will Allow Refugees to Compete in This Year's Games

"We want to send a message of hope."

For the first time in history, displaced refugees will be able to compete in the Olympic Games. In response to the growing Syrian and Iraqi refugee crises, the International Olympic Committee announced that they have taken a wildly unexpected step by breaking away from the hard policy that prevented athletes not representing a country from competing, and are allowing a team of refugees from the conflict zone to participate.

“By welcoming the team of Refugee Olympic Athletes to the Olympic Games Rio 2016, we want to send a message of hope for all refugees in our world,” said IOC President Thomas Bach in the press release. “Having no national team to belong to, having no flag to march behind, having no national anthem to be played, these refugee athletes will be welcomed to the Olympic Games with the Olympic flag and with the Olympic Anthem.”

According to the IOC, Ysra Mardini, a Syrian refugee who swam three hours to the Greek island Lesbos, and Popole Misenga, a judo fighter from Congo seeking asylum in Brazil, are among the 43 potential athletes that are being considered to compete in the Olympic Games. While the spotlight has been on the Syrian crisis lately, it should be noted that there are an estimated 19.5 million refugees worldwide, and a quarter come from the Syrian conflict.

No matter who competes, however, this will be a beautiful moment where people of all races from all parts of the world who have been touched by tragedy will be able to compete together as one team to bring home the Gold for the world. No borders will get in the way of humanity in 2016.